Author: Who created the source? What do you know about the author? What is the author’s point of view?
Place and Time: Where and when was the source produced? How might this affect the meaning of the source?
Prior Knowledge: Beyond information about the author and the context of its creation, what do you know that would help you further understand the primary source?
Audience: For whom was the source created and how might this affect the reliability of the source?
Reason: Why was this source produced at the time it was produced?
The Main Idea: What point is the source trying to convey?
Significance: Why is this source important? What inferences can you draw from this document? Ask yourself, “So what?” in relation to the question asked.
Author: Who created the source? What do you know about the author? What is the author’s point of view?
Place and Time: Where and when was the source produced? How might this affect the meaning of the source?
Prior Knowledge: Beyond information about the author and the context of its creation, what do you know that would help you further understand the primary source?
Audience: For whom was the source created and how might this affect the reliability of the source?
Reason: Why was this source produced at the time it was produced?
The Main Idea: What point is the source trying to convey?
Significance: Why is this source important? What inferences can you draw from this document? Ask yourself, “So what?” in relation to the question asked.